The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, Ondo state chapter, has urged the National Assembly to reject the National Water Resources Bill, which was introduced on June 29.
The bill was presented for first reading by the president of the chamber’s water resources committee, Sada Soli.
The bill, which was introduced and rejected by lawmakers during the 8th Assembly following public outcry, was reintroduced in the current 9th National Assembly in 2020, but faced backlash from Nigerians, which forced the National Assembly to withdraw it.
Afenifere, in a statement issued at the end of his Caucus meeting on Friday in Akure by Remi Olayiwola, the Publicity Secretary, said the reintroduction of the bill was an insult to Nigerians across geopolitical divides.
The association urged all traditional rulers and political leaders in the state to work tirelessly against the bill.
“For the umpteenth time, a bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives called the National Water Resources Bill, which seeks to seize all interstate rivers and hydrological territory in all parts of the country.
“Here is a bill that twice in Assemblies 8 and 9 did not stand the test of time.
“Why should there be such desperation to bring the same bill back to the House? It is just another unholy way to enslave the people of this country,” Afenifere said.
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On the implication of the Water Resources Law in the people, the association pointed out that the states of the federation run the risk of losing their identities and rights before the Federal Government.
According to the association, while most people ask for more government decentralization, the bill seeks more responsibilities for the Federal Government.
Afenifere noted that the National Water Resources Bill would have negative consequences and was a “shrewd action being skillfully imposed on the nation, which well-intentioned Nigerians must oppose.”
He stated that if the federal government had embarked on a restructuring of the country as Afenifere’s management has sought over the years, the reintroduction of the Water Law project would not have been necessary. (YAYA)